Side pocket mandrel for gas lift and chemical injection operations

ABSTRACT

A side pocket mandrel can include a side pocket proximate a flow passage extending longitudinally through a body, the side pocket having at least one seal bore formed therein configured to sealingly engage with a valve positioned in the side pocket, a flow path that permits communication between a control line port and an inlet port of the side pocket, and at least one other flow path that permits communication between the side pocket and an exterior of the body. A method can include connecting a control line to a control line port on a body of a side pocket mandrel, the side pocket mandrel including a flow path between the control line port and a side pocket in the body, and installing at least one plug, thereby preventing fluid communication between the side pocket and an exterior of the body via at least one other flow path.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in examples described below, more particularly provides a side pocket mandrel configurable for gas lift and chemical injection operations.

Reservoir fluids can sometimes flow to the earth's surface when a well has been completed. However, with some wells, reservoir pressure may be insufficient (at the time of well completion or thereafter) to lift the produced fluids (typically, but not exclusively, liquids) to the surface. In those circumstances, technology known as “artificial lift” can be employed to bring the fluids to the surface (or other desired location, such as a subsea production facility or pipeline, etc.).

Various types of artificial lift technology are known to those skilled in the art. In one type of artificial lift, a gas can be injected into the fluids, so that a density of the combined fluids and gas is reduced as compared to the density of the fluids, thereby reducing hydrostatic pressure and allowing the combined fluids and gas to flow to the surface.

In a chemical injection operation, a chemical treatment (typically in the form of a liquid composition selected for certain benefits, such as, corrosion resistance, paraffin mitigation, etc.) is injected into the produced fluids. In this manner, the fluids and/or production tubing and surface equipment are treated with the chemical treatment.

It will, therefore, be readily appreciated that improvements are continually needed in the arts of constructing and utilizing equipment for artificial lift and chemical injection operations. Such improvements may be useful in a wide variety of different well configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representative partially cross-sectional view of an example of a chemical injection system and associated method which can embody principles of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a representative partially cross-sectional view of an example of a gas lift system and associated method which can embody the principles of this disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a representative cross-sectional view of a section of an example of a side pocket mandrel that may be used in the FIGS. 1 & 2 systems and methods, and which can embody the principles of this disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a representative perspective cross-sectional view of the section of the side pocket mandrel in a gas lift configuration.

FIG. 5 is a representative cross-sectional view of the side pocket mandrel as used in an example chemical injection operation.

FIG. 6 is a representative cross-sectional view of the side pocket mandrel as used in an example artificial lift operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Representatively illustrated in FIG. 1 is a system 10 for use with a subterranean well, and an associated method, which can embody principles of this disclosure. However, it should be clearly understood that the system 10 and method are merely one example of an application of the principles of this disclosure in practice, and a wide variety of other examples are possible. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure is not limited at all to the details of the system 10 and method described herein and/or depicted in the drawings.

In the FIG. 1 example, a chemical injection valve 12 is installed in a seal bore 14 a of a side pocket mandrel 14 connected as part of a tubular string 16 in the well. The tubular string 16 may be substantially continuous or segmented, may be made of steel, composite or other materials, and may be of the types known to those skilled in the art as production tubing, conduit, pipe or other tubulars.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the tubular string 16 is positioned inside a liner or casing 18, so that an annulus 20 is formed between the tubular string 16 and the casing 18. The casing 18 is cemented in a wellbore 22. However, in other examples, the liner or casing 18 may not be cemented in the wellbore 22, the wellbore may be deviated or horizontal, etc. Thus, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to any particular details of the well or any of its components as depicted in the example of FIG. 1.

Production fluid 24 (such as, oil, gas, water, gas condensates, combinations thereof, etc.) flows through a longitudinal flow passage 16 a of the tubular string 16 toward the earth's surface (e.g., to a land or water-based production facility, pipeline or rig). The chemical injection valve 12 is used to control injection of a chemical treatment 26 into the flow passage 16 a, so that the production fluid 24 and/or an interior of the tubular string 16 is treated as the production fluid flows toward the surface.

The chemical treatment 26 may serve any of a variety of different purposes or combination of purposes. For example, the chemical treatment 26 may inhibit paraffin formation in the fluid 24, inhibit corrosion in the tubular string 16 or surface equipment, serve as a surfactant, prevent undesired precipitation of substances from the fluid, etc. The scope of this disclosure is not limited to any particular purpose or combination of purposes for the chemical treatment 26.

In the FIG. 1 example, the chemical treatment 26 is delivered to the chemical injection valve 12 by a pump 28, which flows the chemical treatment 26 through an umbilical or control line 30 extending along the tubular string 16 to the side pocket mandrel 14. In other examples, the chemical treatment 26 could be flowed through the annulus 20 from the surface, without use of the control line 30, or the control line could be otherwise positioned.

Suitable chemical injection valves for use as the chemical injection valve 12 in the FIG. 1 system 10 example include the chemical injection valves described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,593,554 and 4,565,215 (which are incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety for all purposes), and chemical injection valves for use with Model SBRO-CI™ side pocket mandrels marketed by Weatherford International, Ltd. of Houston, Tex. USA. However, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to use of any particular chemical injection valve.

Referring additionally now to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of another example of the system 10 is representatively illustrated. In this example, an artificial lift operation is being performed.

Instead of the chemical injection valve 12 depicted in FIG. 1, a gas lift valve 32 is installed in the seal bore 14 a of the side pocket mandrel 14. The gas lift valve 32 is used to control injection of a gas 34 into the flow passage 16 a, so that it mixes with the production fluid 24.

The pump 28 in the FIG. 2 example could be a compressor suitable for pressurizing and flowing the gas 34 into the annulus 20, so that it is delivered to an exterior of the side pocket mandrel 14. The gas lift valve 32 controls flow of the gas 34 from the annulus 20 into the tubular string 16.

Suitable gas lift valves for use as the gas lift valve 32 in the FIG. 2 system 10 example include the gas lift valves described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,763,706 and US Publication No. 2017/0152733 (which are incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety for all purposes), and Models RH-1, RH-2, RDDK-2A and ULTRA-HP™ gas lift valves marketed by Weatherford International, Ltd. of Houston, Tex. USA. However, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to use of any particular gas lift valve.

The side pocket mandrel 14 depicted in FIGS. 1 & 2 is not conventional, at least in part because it can be configured for use either with the chemical injection valve 12 or the gas lift valve 32. For example, the mandrel 14 can be configured for flow of the chemical treatment 26 from the control line 30 to the interior of the tubular string 16, or for flow of the gas 34 from the annulus 20 to the interior of the tubular string.

Referring additionally now to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of an example of the side pocket mandrel 14 is representatively illustrated. The FIG. 3 side pocket mandrel 14 may be used in the system 10 and method example depicted in FIG. 1, or in the system 10 and method example depicted in FIG. 2. However, the FIG. 3 side pocket mandrel 14 may be used in other systems and methods in keeping with the principles of this disclosure.

As depicted in FIG. 3, the side pocket mandrel 14 is configured for use with the chemical treatment operation illustrated in FIG. 1. The control line 30 is connected to a control line port 38 on an exterior of the side pocket mandrel 14, for example, using a control line connector 40. A flow path 36 provides fluid communication between the exterior control line port 38 and an interior inlet port 46.

The inlet port 46 is positioned longitudinally between two of the seal bores 14 a in a side pocket 14 c formed in a body 14 d of the mandrel 14. When the chemical injection valve 12 (see FIG. 1) is operatively installed in the side pocket 14 c, so that longitudinally spaced apart seals on the chemical injection valve sealingly engage the seal bores 14 a, the inlet port 46 is placed in communication with the chemical injection valve, so that the chemical treatment 26 can flow from the control line 30 to the chemical injection valve.

Note that several flow paths 42 extend through a wall 14 b of the side pocket mandrel body 14 d. As depicted in FIG. 3, the flow paths 42 are blocked by plugs 44. A flow area of each of the flow paths 42 in this example is greater than a flow area of the flow path 36.

The plugs 44 prevent fluid communication between an interior and an exterior of the side pocket mandrel 14 through the wall 14 b. If the plugs 44 are not installed in the flow paths 42, communication would be permitted between the annulus 20 external to the side pocket mandrel 14 and a radially enlarged bore 50 formed in the side pocket 14 c longitudinally between the seal bores 14 a.

When the chemical injection valve 12 is installed in the side pocket 14 c, an annular space will be formed radially between the chemical injection valve and the radially enlarged bore 50. The flow path 36 will be in communication with this annular space.

Referring additionally now to FIG. 4, a perspective view of the side pocket mandrel 14 is representatively illustrated. The FIG. 4 side pocket mandrel 14 configuration may be used in the system 10 and method, or it may be used in other systems and methods in keeping with the principles of this disclosure.

As depicted in FIG. 4, the side pocket mandrel 14 is configured for use with the artificial lift operation illustrated in FIG. 2. Note that the control line 30 is not connected to the control line port 38, and the plugs 44 are not installed in the flow paths 42.

Thus, fluid communication is permitted via the flow paths 36, 42 between the annulus 20 and the bore 50 positioned between the seal bores 14 a. In this configuration, the gas 34 (see FIG. 2) can be flowed from the annulus 20 to the gas lift valve 32 installed in the side pocket 14 c. The greater flow areas of the flow paths 42 provide for increased flow rates of the gas 34 into the tubular string 16.

When the gas lift valve 32 is installed in the side pocket 14 c, an annular space will be formed radially between the gas lift valve and the radially enlarged bore 50. The flow paths 36, 42 will be in communication with this annular space.

The side pocket mandrel 14 can be conveniently changed from this configuration to the FIG. 3 chemical injection configuration by installing the plugs 44 in the flow paths 42, and connecting the control line 30 to the control line port 38 (thereby preventing communication between the annulus 20 and the bore 50, and providing for communication between the control line and the bore 50). Similarly, the side pocket mandrel 14 can be conveniently changed from the chemical injection configuration to the artificial lift configuration by removing the plugs 44 from the flow paths 42, and disconnecting the control line 30 from (or not connecting the control line to) the control line port 38.

Referring additionally now to FIG. 5, a cross-sectional view of the side pocket mandrel 14 is representatively illustrated with the chemical injection valve 12 installed in the side pocket 14 c, so that seals 12 a carried on the valve are sealingly engaged with the respective seal bores 14 a. Note that an opening 52 at an upper end of the side pocket 14 c permits the valve 12 to be installed into the side pocket 14 c from the flow passage 16 a, and permits the valve to be retrieved from the side pocket. Such installation and retrieval techniques are well known to those skilled in the art, and so are not further described herein.

Although not visible in FIG. 5 (see FIGS. 1 & 3), the control line 30 is connected to the control line port 38, so that the chemical treatment 26 can be flowed from the control line to the chemical injection valve 12 via the flow path 36. The valve 12 regulates flow of the chemical treatment 26 into the flow passage 16 a via the opening 52.

The chemical treatment 26 mixes with the production fluid 24 in the flow passage 16 a. The flow paths 42 are blocked by the plugs 44 in this chemical injection operation (see FIG. 3).

In other examples, the chemical treatment 26 could be discharged from the valve 12 into the flow passage 16 a via a discharge port 54 at a lower end of the side pocket 14 c, or could be otherwise flowed into the flow passage 16 a. The discharge port 54 in this example is in communication with the valve 12 via a flow path 48 formed in the side pocket mandrel body 14 d opposite the seal bores 14 a from the side pocket 14 c (in some examples, the flow path 48 could comprise a lower section of the side pocket 14 c). Note that the flow path 48 is longitudinally opposite a lower one of the seal bores 14 a from the bore 50 and flow paths 36, 42.

Referring additionally now to FIG. 6, a cross-sectional view of the side pocket mandrel 14 is representatively illustrated with the gas lift valve 32 installed in the side pocket 14 c, so that seals 32 a carried on the valve are sealingly engaged with the respective seal bores 14 a. The opening 52 at the upper end of the side pocket 14 c permits the valve 32 to be installed into the side pocket 14 c from the flow passage 16 a, and permits the valve to be retrieved from the side pocket.

Although not visible in FIG. 6 (see FIGS. 2 & 4), the plugs 44 are not installed in the flow paths 42 and the control line 30 is not connected to the control line port 38, so that the gas 34 can be flowed from the annulus 20 to the gas lift valve 32 via the flow paths 36, 42. The valve 32 regulates flow of the gas 34 into the flow passage 16 a via the discharge port 54. The gas 34 is entrained with the production fluid 24 in the flow passage 16 a. In other examples, the gas 34 could be discharged from the valve 32 into the flow passage 16 a via the opening 52 at the upper end of the side pocket 14 c, or could be otherwise flowed into the flow passage 16 a.

It may now be fully appreciated that the above disclosure provides significant advancements to the art of designing, constructing and operating side pocket mandrels for chemical injection and gas lift operations. The use of the side pocket mandrel 14 examples described above allow for reduced inventory costs and improved customer service, since a single side pocket mandrel can be configured for either a gas lift operation or a chemical injection operation, and the side pocket mandrel can be conveniently changed from one configuration to the other.

A side pocket mandrel 14 for use with a subterranean well is provided to the art by the above disclosure. In one example, the side pocket mandrel 14 can include a side pocket 14 c proximate a flow passage 16 a extending longitudinally through a body 14 d, the side pocket 14 c having at least one seal bore 14 a formed therein configured to sealingly engage with a valve 12, 32 positioned in the side pocket 14 c, a first flow path 36 that permits communication between a control line port 38 and an inlet port 46 of the side pocket 14 c, and at least one second flow path 42 that permits communication between the side pocket 14 c and an exterior of the body 14 d.

The side pocket mandrel 14 may include a third flow path 48 that permits communication between the flow passage 16 a and a discharge port 54 of the side pocket 14 c. The seal bore 14 a may be positioned longitudinally between the inlet port 46 and the discharge port 54.

The side pocket mandrel 14 may include at least one plug 44 that prevents flow through the second flow path 42.

The side pocket mandrel body 14 d may include an opening 52 formed therein and configured for conveyance of the valve 12, 32 between the flow passage 16 a and the side pocket 14 c. The valve 32 may comprise a gas lift valve.

The “at least one” second flow path 42 may comprise multiple second flow paths 42. A flow area of each of the second flow paths 42 may be greater than a flow area of the first flow path 36.

A method for use with a subterranean well is also provided to the art by the above disclosure. In one example, the method can include the steps of: connecting a control line 30 to a control line port 38 on a body 14 d of a side pocket mandrel 14, the side pocket mandrel 14 including a first flow path 36 between the control line port 38 and a side pocket 14 c in the body 14 d, and installing at least one plug 44, thereby preventing fluid communication between the side pocket 14 c and an exterior of the body 14 d via at least one second flow path 42.

The installing step may be performed prior to the connecting step.

The method may include installing a chemical injection valve 12 in the side pocket 14 c. The chemical injection valve 12 installing step may include sealingly engaging the chemical injection valve 12 with seal bores 14 a in the side pocket mandrel 14, and the control line 30 connecting step may include permitting communication between the control line 30 and an annular space (e.g., at the radially enlarged bore 50) between the seal bores 14 a via the first flow path 36.

The method may include forming a third flow path 48, thereby permitting communication between a discharge port 54 and a flow passage 16 a extending longitudinally through a body 14 d of the side pocket mandrel 14. At least one of the seal bores 14 a may be positioned longitudinally between the second flow path 36 and the discharge port 54.

The “at least one” plug 44 may comprise multiple plugs 44, the “at least one” second flow path 42 may comprise multiple second flow paths 42, and each of the plugs 44 may prevent fluid communication through a respective one of the second flow paths 42. Each of the second flow paths 42 may have a flow area greater than a flow area of the first flow path 36.

The method may include flowing a chemical treatment 26 through the first flow path 36 while the plug 44 prevents flow through the second flow path 42.

Also described above is a side pocket mandrel 14 for use with a subterranean well, in which the side pocket mandrel 14 comprises a body 14 d with a flow passage 16 a extending longitudinally through the body 14 d, a side pocket 14 c proximate the flow passage 16 a and having spaced apart seal bores 14 a formed therein, a first flow path 36 that permits communication between a control line port 38 and an annular space (e.g., at the radially enlarged bore 50) disposed longitudinally between the seal bores 14 a, at least one second flow path 42 configured to permit communication between the annular space and an exterior of the body 14 d, and a plug 44 that prevents the communication between the annular space and the exterior of the body 14 d via the second flow path 42.

The body 14 d may include an opening 52 formed therein and configured for conveyance of a valve 12, 32 between the flow passage 16 a and the side pocket 14 c.

The side pocket mandrel 14 may include a third flow path 48 configured to permit communication between a discharge port 54 and the flow passage 16 a, the seal bores 14 a being positioned between the opening 52 and the discharge port 54.

The valve may comprise a chemical injection valve 12 or a gas lift valve 32.

The plug 44 may be removable from the body 14 d, the communication between the annular space and the exterior of the body 14 d being permitted in response to removal of the plug 44 from the body 14 d.

A flow area of the second flow path 42 may be greater than a flow area of the first flow path 36.

The “at least one” second flow path 42 may comprise multiple second flow paths 42.

Although various examples have been described above, with each example having certain features, it should be understood that it is not necessary for a particular feature of one example to be used exclusively with that example. Instead, any of the features described above and/or depicted in the drawings can be combined with any of the examples, in addition to or in substitution for any of the other features of those examples. One example's features are not mutually exclusive to another example's features. Instead, the scope of this disclosure encompasses any combination of any of the features.

Although each example described above includes a certain combination of features, it should be understood that it is not necessary for all features of an example to be used. Instead, any of the features described above can be used, without any other particular feature or features also being used.

It should be understood that the various embodiments described herein may be utilized in various orientations, such as inclined, inverted, horizontal, vertical, etc., and in various configurations, without departing from the principles of this disclosure. The embodiments are described merely as examples of useful applications of the principles of the disclosure, which is not limited to any specific details of these embodiments.

In the above description of the representative examples, directional terms (such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” “upward,” “downward,” etc.) are used for convenience in referring to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be clearly understood that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to any particular directions described herein.

The terms “including,” “includes,” “comprising,” “comprises,” and similar terms are used in a non-limiting sense in this specification. For example, if a system, method, apparatus, device, etc., is described as “including” a certain feature or element, the system, method, apparatus, device, etc., can include that feature or element, and can also include other features or elements. Similarly, the term “comprises” is considered to mean “comprises, but is not limited to.”

Of course, a person skilled in the art would, upon a careful consideration of the above description of representative embodiments of the disclosure, readily appreciate that many modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions, and other changes may be made to the specific embodiments, and such changes are contemplated by the principles of this disclosure. For example, structures disclosed as being separately formed can, in other examples, be integrally formed and vice versa. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited solely by the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A side pocket mandrel for use with a subterranean well, the side pocket mandrel comprising: a side pocket proximate a flow passage extending longitudinally through a body, the side pocket having at least one seal bore formed therein configured to sealingly engage with a valve positioned in the side pocket; a first flow path that permits communication between a control line port and an inlet port of the side pocket; and at least one second flow path that permits communication between the side pocket and an exterior of the body.
 2. The side pocket mandrel of claim 1, further comprising a third flow path that permits communication between the flow passage and a discharge port of the side pocket.
 3. The side pocket mandrel of claim 1, in which the seal bore is positioned longitudinally between the inlet port and the discharge port.
 4. The side pocket mandrel of claim 1, further comprising at least one plug that prevents flow through the at least one second flow path.
 5. The side pocket mandrel of claim 1, in which the body includes an opening formed therein and configured for conveyance of the valve between the flow passage and the side pocket.
 6. The side pocket mandrel of claim 1, in which the valve comprises a gas lift valve.
 7. The side pocket mandrel of claim 1, in which the at least one second flow path comprises multiple second flow paths.
 8. The side pocket mandrel of claim 7, in which a flow area of each of the second flow paths is greater than a flow area of the first flow path.
 9. A method for use with a subterranean well, the method comprising: connecting a control line to a control line port on a body of a side pocket mandrel, the side pocket mandrel including a first flow path between the control line port and a side pocket in the body; and installing at least one plug, thereby preventing fluid communication between the side pocket and an exterior of the body via at least one second flow path.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising installing a chemical injection valve in the side pocket.
 11. The method of claim 10, in which the chemical injection valve installing comprises sealingly engaging the chemical injection valve with seal bores in the side pocket mandrel, and the control line connecting comprises permitting communication between the control line and an annular space between the seal bores via the first flow path.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming a third flow path, thereby permitting communication between a discharge port and a flow passage extending longitudinally through a body of the side pocket mandrel, at least one of the seal bores being positioned longitudinally between the second flow path and the discharge port.
 13. The method of claim 9, in which the at least one plug comprises multiple plugs, the at least one second flow path comprises multiple second flow paths, and each of the plugs prevents fluid communication through a respective one of the second flow paths.
 14. The method of claim 12, in which each of the second flow paths has a flow area greater than a flow area of the first flow path.
 15. The method of claim 9, further comprising flowing a chemical treatment through the first flow path while the plug prevents flow through the second flow path.
 16. A side pocket mandrel for use with a subterranean well, the side pocket mandrel comprising: a body with a flow passage extending longitudinally through the body; a side pocket proximate the flow passage and having spaced apart seal bores formed therein; a first flow path that permits communication between a control line port and an annular space disposed longitudinally between the seal bores; at least one second flow path configured to permit communication between the annular space and an exterior of the body; and a plug that prevents the communication between the annular space and the exterior of the body via the second flow path.
 17. The side pocket mandrel of claim 16, in which the body includes an opening formed therein and configured for conveyance of a valve between the flow passage and the side pocket.
 18. The side pocket mandrel of claim 17, further comprising a third flow path configured to permit communication between a discharge port and the flow passage, the seal bores being positioned between the opening and the discharge port.
 19. The side pocket mandrel of claim 17, in which the valve comprises a chemical injection valve.
 20. The side pocket mandrel of claim 17, in which the valve comprises a gas lift valve.
 21. The side pocket mandrel of claim 16, in which the plug is removable from the body, the communication between the annular space and the exterior of the body being permitted in response to removal of the plug from the body.
 22. The side pocket mandrel of claim 16, in which the at least one second flow path comprises multiple second flow paths.
 23. The side pocket mandrel of claim 16, in which a flow area of the second flow path is greater than a flow area of the first flow path. 